Hashtag Lewisburg WV City Paperhttp://hashtagwv.com
Lewisburg, West Virginia's City Paper. Your News and Arts MonthlyMon, 17 Dec 2018 12:16:46 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.1http://hashtagwv.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cropped-hashtag-profile-32x32.jpgHashtag Lewisburg WV City Paperhttp://hashtagwv.com
3232Appalfolks of America Celebrates 33 Years of Community Service!http://hashtagwv.com/appalfolks-of-america-celebrates-33-years-of-community-service/
http://hashtagwv.com/appalfolks-of-america-celebrates-33-years-of-community-service/#respondWed, 12 Dec 2018 16:16:59 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14548Appalfolks of America Association (AAA), will celebrate 33 years of community service on Dec. 12, 2018. AAA is a non-profit organization based in Clifton Forge and founded by M. Ray Allen in 1985, Over the years, Appalfolks has built its stellar reputation by helping Appalachian youth via its outreach programs, and in 2006, the University […]

Appalfolks of America Association (AAA), will celebrate 33 years of community service on Dec. 12, 2018. AAA is a non-profit organization based in Clifton Forge and founded by M. Ray Allen in 1985,

Over the years, Appalfolks has built its stellar reputation by helping Appalachian youth via its outreach programs, and in 2006, the University of Tennessee’s Press published Encyclopedia of Appalachia that recognizes the good work with Appalachian youth that Allen and Appalfolks have accomplished. Under the “Literature Section” on page 1084, the reader will find, “M. Ray Allen, a poet and Appalachian activist from Clifton Forge, Virginia, is a native of Martin, Kentucky, whose writing and teaching career led him to help Appalachian youth through literacy and the performing arts.” The editors, Rudy Abramson and Jean Haskell, continued, “A high school teacher since 1963, Allen is best known for his work as founding director of Appalfolks of America, a non-profit corporation that promotes drug-free living through its writing and performance programs.” In conclusion, the editors rendered, “Appalfolks owns and operates the historic Stonewall Theatre in Clifton Forge as a performance center for Appalachian youth. Allen’s poems are widely published in literary arts magazines across the United States and in four book-length volumes.”

Allen, who continues to serve as president of Appalfolks, has completed a 41-year career as an educator. He holds an MFA degree in Theater Arts from UCLA and his MA degree in secondary education from Morehead State University where he also earned his A.B. degree with a double major, English, and physical education. During his career in education, he taught 11 subjects and served as head coach in five sports while teaching in Kentucky, Michigan, California and Virginia. In 1991, he was inducted as the 80th member of the Morehead State University Alumni Hall of Fame for his literary achievements, work with Appalfolks and career as an educator.m“ Before the time the Encyclopedia of Appalachia was published,” Allen noted, “I had recommended to our board of directors that Appalfolks donate the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge, something Appalfolks did in 2003 in exchange for a contract to continue having Appalfolks’ headquarters in the theatre while serving as a producer and presenter during the future of the theatre.”

Appalfolks raised the $5,600 for the historical appraisal of the theatre in 1991, and John Wayne Anderson, president of R-C Theatres in Reisterstown, Maryland, presented the keys to the theatre to Allen with WSLS Channel 10’s Star Link TV filming the presentation inside the theatre. The theatre had been appraised at $125,000, and Anderson presented the keys to the entire facility to Allen on behalf of Irwin R. Cohen, the owner who had changed the name from Masonic Theatre to the Stonewall Theatre in 1968, to honor General Stonewall Jackson.

Appalfolks formed the “Save the Stonewall Committee,” in 1992 and more than 100 volunteers were recruited to help restore the theatre from a twin-cinema to a performing arts facility that eventually featured a professional dance studio on the top floor and a fully functional stage with counterweight system for changing the scenery. The balcony and auditorium seating accommodated 520, and the fully-air-conditioned theatre was remodeled to render the facility ADA compliant. More than $200,000 worth of restoration improvements were made by Appalfolks, $25,000 to render the bathrooms ADA compliant.

A radio-a-thon was held, and $2,200 was raised to hire the Virginia Tech Community Design Assistance Center to conduct a study of the theatre in order to form a restoration plan that would respect the integrity of the historic features of the facility. The elevator in the theatre today was placed in the exact location that the study recommended. Appalfolks cooperated with the town by passing the study along to the Town of Clifton Forge’s choice to spearhead the restoration, the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation with the late John E. Hillert serving as its president. The foundation continues to lease the facility from the town.

Allen recalled, “Thanks to a $130,000 matching grant from The Allegany Foundation that required Appalfolks to raise $39,000, Appalfolks and its many volunteers were able to restore the theatre to a performing arts facility that drew patrons to its programs from Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Alabama. The tour bus from Alabama brought 35 country music fans to our Virginia Opry that received a standing ovation.”

Prior to owning and operating the Historic Stonewall Theatre, Appalfolks earned a solid reputation in Southern Appalachia for accomplishing good work in the literary arts by conducting writers workshops that drew high school and college students to receive free instruction from professional writers, including the late Dr. Jim Wayne Miller, Denise Giardina, Judy Light Ayyildiz, Dr. Parks Lanier, Jr., the late Albert Stewart, the late Dr. Jack Justin Turner, Dr. Bob Henry Baber, and S. T. Allen.

Students from several school systems in Eastern Kentucky were bused in to attend Appalfolks’ Appalachian Writers’ workshops at Jenny Wiley State Park as part of the Kentucky Highlands Folk Festival. Later on Appalfolks conducted writers’ workshops for students at Douthat State Park as part of Apple Day, an Appalachian celebration.

Appalfolks also owns and operates Mountain Empire Publications (MEP) that launched “The Appalachian Poetry Series” in 2013. MEP has published three books of poetry in the series.

Additionally, Appalfolks founded the Alleghany Highlands Writers Workshop held by-monthly in conjunction with the Clifton Forge Public Library. The workshop has served more than 50 writers over the years, and many guest authors have provided instruction, including the late Bob Campbell, Dr. Parks Lanier, Jr. and Judy Light Ayyildiz.

Students from as far away as Harrisonburg, VA were bused in to the Historic Stonewall Theatre to attend drama productions by such art presenters as Lime Kiln Arts, Theatre IV, and the Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet. Allen recalled, “Appalfolks paid Lime Kiln Arts $6,000 to present Stonewall Country, a musical written by composers: Don Baker, Robin Williams and Linda Williams, and students from area high schools were bused in on General Stonewall Jackson’s birthday to experience the production that dealt with the War Between the States in general and General Stonewall Jackson’s involvement in particular.”

Appalfolks conducted a creative writing program at Augusta Correctional Center prior to receiving the Historic Stonewall Theatre. Also, the non-profit corporation organized and held The Mountain Heritage Festival at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College that drew thousands of festival attendees for two years. The festival featured Appalfolks’ writers’ workshops, arts and crafts, musical programs, a Civil War encampment, a wagon trail from Millboro, sporting events such as tennis tournaments, Little League pitching clinic conducted by Al Worthington, and various vendors.

Allen remembered, “The banjo picking contest in the Moomaw Center drew a standing-room-only crowd, and Appalfolks awarded legendary Tex McGuire of the Del Rio Cowboys a lifetime achievement award for his contributions in the field of country music.”

Appalfolks formed an arts/education partnership with Lime Kiln Arts, and dozens of Lime Kiln Arts’ productions were booked by Appalfolks at elementary schools such as Sharon, Boiling Spring, Falling Springs, and Callaghan. Also, Appalfolks booked numerous drama productions in at Alleghany High School, ones from Theatre IV and Lime Kiln Arts. Bill Pinkney and the Original Drifters appeared on stage in Hodnett Hall at Alleghany High School as an Appalfolks presentation.

The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce recruited Allen to write a play concerning Mad Ann Bailey as part of the “Celebration of the 250 Anniversary of the Alleghany Highlands.” The two-act-drama Allen wrote is entitled The Life and Times of Mad Ann Bailey, and it was performed twice in the Historic Stonewall Theatre and once at Alleghany High School by Appalfolks’ Clifton Forge Players. Allen also directed the play that featured Dick Magnifico, the Clifton Forge Town Manager, as one of the Indians. The play received a favorable review in the Lexington Gazette.

Prior to Appalfolks’ receiving the Historic Stonewall Theatre, Appalfolks teamed with Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) to form the first literacy organization in the Alleghany Highlands, and the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors designated Appalfolks and TAP as the official literacy organizations for the Alleghany Highlands. Allen remarked, “I recall setting up one room in the Historic Stonewall Theatre as a literacy center where I instructed a gentleman in his 60’s to read although he could only identify ten words when we started.” The student progressed by developing his reading ability to test on a third-grade level before he purchased a reading device that helped him continue to develop his reading skills.

Appalfolks helped TAP secure a $29,000 grant for its GED program, held a fund-raiser at the theatre for the Alleghany Highlands Literacy Program, planned and conducted a literacy dollar campaign that raised needed funds, and held a benefit for TAP that raised $500 after TAP’s building in Roanoke burned. Over the years Appalfolks has held more than 30 benefits for needy individuals and for such organizations as the 9/11 Fund, Clifton Forge Little League, Clifton Forge Public Library and the Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic.

The Virginia General Assembly passed Resolution 397 in 2017 to commend The Virginia Opry for presenting 25 consecutive years of country music shows in the Alleghany Highlands. Founded by Appalfolks, The Virginia Opry made its debut in October 1992, drawing more than 200 patrons to the Historic Stonewall Theatre. Under the direction of H. Ray Tucker, The Virginia Opry continued to draw country music fans from as far west as Charleston, West Virginia and as far east as Richmond. After Tucker retired from his directorship, Jim Tippy, who had served as an opry director in Texas, accepted the directorship. Following Tippy’s tenure, Denny Tincher, the local radio station’s owner, filled the role.

Such nationally prominent guests and bands as the late Dan Seals, The Lonesome River Band, The Freight Hoppers, Lime Kiln Arts’s troupe performing songs from Stonewall Country, The Farm Hands and Bob Campbell whose Bob Campbell and the Coachmen concert set an attendance record at the Historic Stonewall Theatre in 1996 by drawing 510 country music fans to the theatre, a show that helped Appalfolks sell more than $36,000 worth of tickets for the season. Allen noted, “The late Bob Campbell, who was one of six entertainers to tour with The Statler Brothers as one of that famous quartet, helped Appalfolks by serving as director of both the Opry of the Virginias and the Virginia Junior Opry.”

The Virginia Junior Opry served youth from 11 Virginia counties, and guest vocalists from as far away as Virginia Beach traveled to Clifton Forge to perform with Campbell who joined in with the troupe as a guitarist and vocalist. Colton Berry, a performer with the Virginia Junior Opry for two performance seasons, appeared on American Idol as a Top Ten Contestant.

Currently, Appalfolks has founded the New “Old School” Junior Virginia Opry that features two bands. Crossing County Lines, a group made up of four male musicians and vocalists ages 16-22, recently returned from Nashville where the string quartet performed in the Commodore Grille and recorded five songs for its first CD that features three of the group’s original compositions. The other band is comprised of three male string instrument musicians and vocalists and one female musician and vocalist. The ages of the band range from 12 to 14. The group chose its own name, The Appalachian Pickers. Both bands have opened for The Virginia Opry at the Historic Masonic Theatre.

STARS (Theatrical Artists Revue & Showcase) will complete its 22nd performance season on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3:00 p.m. on stage at the Historic Masonic Theatre where the troupe of 21 performers who face mental or physical challenges will continue to build on the accomplishments of the first STARS’ troupe that made its debut as an Appalfolks production 22 years ago. In 2006 Appalfolks filmed a documentary film entitled “STARS” that won a Bronze Telly, a national award for excellence in documentary filmmaking. Vivian Pendleton, Sharon Walthall, Charlie Mick, Paula Crance, and Sonya Kimberlin Romanello have served as STARS’ directors over the years, and more than 30 performers with STARS have graced the stage for Appalfolks as one of its most beneficial outreach programs.

According to Allen, December 12 will be the kick off for a year-long celebration with for completing 33 years of community service work that has had a positive impact on the lives of many, both young and old, in the three target states of Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. “Friends of Appalfolks are invited to the Buckhorne Country Store and Campground on Douthat Road on December 12 to help me celebrate by enjoying some free ice cream and Appalfolks’ birthday cake,” Allen remarked.

Appalfolks has designated three STARS productions and three Virginia Opry shows to be staged at the Historic Masonic Theatre in 2019. Those six base shows are required via Appalfolks’ contract with the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation. Allen observed, “Our board of directors have approved three STARS’ productions and three Virginia Opry shows to be held on stage at the Historic Masonic Theatre in 2019, and our organization continues to schedule other shows at other venues.”

Currently, David B. Davis, a resident of Clifton Forge whose law firm is in Covington, serves as chairman of the board. Harry J. Newman, a CPA from Covington, is the treasurer. Bruce D. Olson, a teacher at DSLCC, is vice-president and Anmarie Herald, an assistant manager at the Buckhorne Country Store and Campground who resides in Clifton Forge, holds the office of secretary.

Other Appalfolks’ board members are Alene Wilcher, a resident of Clifton Forge; Jane Goldberg, from Iron Gate who resides in Cliftondale Park; Paula Crance, director of STARS who resides in Clifton Forge and Jerry Jefferies, Jr., a resident of Covington who is the drummer for Moonshine Express.

Appalfolks has scheduled two of its 2019 Virginia Opry shows to feature the Moonshine Express Band, a local band that has been performing in the Alleghany Highlands for three decades including one performance for Appalfolks at the Historic Stonewall Theatre. Billy Fury, founder of the band, will perform with Bink Jenkins, Frank Alfred, Tim Clifton and Jerry Jeffries, Jr., who has performed as a drummer for The Virginia Opry. The band will open Appalfolks’ 2019 season by releasing its new CD at the “Be My Sweetheart Show.”

Jana Allen, actress and vocalist who has appeared in several movies and on TV, has accepted the role of vocalist and emcee for The Virginia Opry, a duty she will share with Marc Whitney, a guitarist and vocalist who is the grandson of Tucker. Charlotte Ivy, Ambassador of Country Music for The Virginia Opry and a vocalist and guitarist member of The Virginia Opry will continue to perform as the Virginia Opry’s “Token Texan.”

Jana got her start as a sixth grader by performing at the Historic Stonewall Theatre in a play her father, Ray, wrote. The first play to be performed by the Stonewall Players, “A Musical Tribute to the Railroad” featured a choir of retired railroad men from the Alleghany Highlands performing with the nine members of The Stonewall Players, the first drama group to perform in the theatre following its grand reopening in May of 1992 when The Announcers performed a free concert that was attended by Congressman Bob Goodlatte.

Crossing County Lines and The Appalachian Pickers are set to open for two of the three Virginia Opry shows approved by Appalfolks for 2019 at the theatre. The dates will be announced once contracts with the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation are signed.

Keith Bryant will be featured in one of the three Virginia Opry’s shows at the Historic Masonic Theatre. Ray remarked, “The Virginia Opry will present its first showcase ever in that an entire show will be held to showcase the talent of a single Virginian.”

Allen concluded, “Our 2019 schedule will be released as soon as possible along with the dates of special celebration events that will highlight Appalfolks’ achievement of completing 33 years of helping others lead a better life here in Southern Appalachia.”

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/appalfolks-of-america-celebrates-33-years-of-community-service/feed/0My Dog & I: Joyhttp://hashtagwv.com/my-dog-i-joy-janine-lazarus/
http://hashtagwv.com/my-dog-i-joy-janine-lazarus/#respondTue, 11 Dec 2018 17:11:36 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14532It’s here again, Thank Goodness! Yes, I really do love Xmas. I know, have a reputation for being heartless and uncompromising but Xmas just makes me smile!! Those of us that are Xmas Fans are busy thinking of fun ways to celebrate, good things to cook, creative gifts to come up with and anticipating another […]

It’s here again, Thank Goodness! Yes, I really do love Xmas. I know, have a reputation for being heartless and uncompromising but Xmas just makes me smile!!

Those of us that are Xmas Fans are busy thinking of fun ways to celebrate, good things to cook, creative gifts to come up with and anticipating another viewing of the Polar Express and Elf. IGNORE the Grinches!!

So, the most marvelous thing about having dogs in your life is that they wholeheartedly throw themselves into the “happy” energy with you! It doesn’t matter if they do not fully understand the concept of our rituals and ceremonies…all they feel is the outpouring of glad feelings that accompany those of us who enjoy this season.

So I am going to share a list of some of the things My Dogs & I love about Xmas

With any luck, it’s too cold for mud

The bugs have shriveled up and DIED!!

We can eat more because we need insulation against the cold!

People smile more

We get fun packages to rip open and crinkle with good stuff inside

We get to see old friends and get together with some new ones

The work schedule relaxes, leaving us more time for leisurely walks

The cold makes everyone more cuddly

Woodstoves are the best!!!

We can wear lots of RED, (well, maybe that’s not Lizzie’s favorite thing)

We can sleep in

We can stay up late watching old movies

We have to go on long walks to burn the Xmas Calories (Oh, did I mention that?)

There is always the possibility of a PUPPY

There are lots and lots of bright lights everywhere so we can take walks at night, (again with the walking)

There are Xmas Trees to pee on (That one was for Spanky)

It’s the one time of the year it’s OK to hug an English Person

People get careless with their food after a Xmas drink or two and start dropping it (Portia’s favorite)

AND last but not least, NEW SLIPPERS!!!! Finally, the dogs get to chew on an old one, without getting into too much trouble…(I didn’t say that) So, if you see me or my pack wandering around town, we will accept any manner of silly greetings, good wishes or dog biscuits…You may even hear me singing snatches of Good King Wenceslas under my breath – don’t judge, I will be back to normal directly after Boxing Day!!

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/my-dog-i-joy-janine-lazarus/feed/0Guns and Cornbread: Buy that Kid a Shotgun for Christmashttp://hashtagwv.com/guns-and-cornbread-buy-that-kid-a-shotgun-for-christmas-larry-case/
http://hashtagwv.com/guns-and-cornbread-buy-that-kid-a-shotgun-for-christmas-larry-case/#respondTue, 11 Dec 2018 16:55:25 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14534I hope that you have not forgotten what it was like to be a ten-year-old kid on Christmas morning. Now add to that you are a kid in a hunting and shooting family. You have been wishing, hoping, and praying that you will see that new gun under the tree. Can you remember this? Think […]

I hope that you have not forgotten what it was like to be a ten-year-old kid on Christmas morning. Now add to that you are a kid in a hunting and shooting family. You have been wishing, hoping, and praying that you will see that new gun under the tree. Can you remember this? Think of Ralphie in A Christmas Story. A lot of our hunting traditions are going by the wayside; I hope that this one has not.

I think it does a kid good to hope for the present he or she desires with all of their little heart. Hopefully Mom and Dad are on the same wave length and agree that they are ready for this firearm and that long, slender package will be there on Christmas morn. This now leaves Dad and or Mom to make the right choice and buy our little guy or girl the right shotgun.

Get ready for a lecture.

If you came up like I did, “back in the day”, most kids got whatever shotgun that was handy shoved in their hands and were basically told to shoot it and don’t complain. Often the young shooter was laughed at after some old blunderbuss knocked them for a loop after they pulled the trigger.

Now let’s see, you give a kid a shotgun that doesn’t fit, it is too big and too heavy, the recoil of which could make a grown man cry. Do we see a problemhere? Friends, bad shooting habits can follow us for a lifetime; sometimes it is not our fault. The kid that was forced to shoot Uncle Bill’s Model 97 will never forget that it kicked like the proverbial mule. He developed a flinch that day that may very well follow him to the grave.

I recently attended the Remington New Product Seminar near Fayetteville, West Virginia. I felt privileged to be there as the list of people attending consisted of most of the heavy hitters in the outdoor media and shooting industry world. But I will tell you this, on the shotgun range, I saw people who I think of as better shotgun shooters than I with some bad flinches. You’ve seen it, while using a gun that you are unfamiliar with, you call “pull” or the bird goes up and the safety is on. You yank the trigger; the barrel takes a big dip downward. Now where might that flinch have come from?

I have mentioned before about working with young people at various shooting functions, National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes Days, Youth Day at the Range and the like. Watch the kid that picks up an ill-fitting shotgun that is too big and heavy for them. Most will lean back and heave the gun to their shoulder, usually snagging the stock under their arm because it too long for them. A gun that fits them allows the young shooter to stand straight and push the gun towards the target as they shoulder it like we are supposed to do.

Think about this. It is important to get a shotgun that fits your son or daughter now, not one that they “will grow into”. While you are waiting for them to grow into this gun, how many bad days in the field will they have and how many bad habits will they acquire because of a shotgun that is too big and heavy for them.

I want you to consider the pump shotgun for this gun rather than the auto loader. Now I do not think that there is anything wrong with the auto loader, but for the first shotgun, consider the pump. Pump guns are generally lighter than autos and are easy for small hands to operate. They are safer to operate when it comes to loading more than one shell, and they are usually less expensive.

So I am going to offer you a couple of choices that you can consider for the young shooters first shotgun, the first is Remington’s Model 870 Compact Jr., most youth model shotguns feature a 13 inch length of pull. The 870 Compact Jr. has a 12 inch length of pull to better fit the smaller shooter and this feature is adjustable so this can be increased as the shooter grows. All this and the reliability of the Remington 870, can over 10 million 870 owners be wrong?

Next is the Mossberg 500 Bantam All Purpose, this gun starts with a 13 inch length of pull, however the Super Bantam model gives you a 12 to 13 inch adjustable stock, multiple barrel lengths are available. Other options include 12, 20 and .410 bore, I would go for the 20 gauge; don’t start them with a .410. I know that it may have been your first shotgun, as was mine. The .410 is really an experts gun, not necessarily a kids gun, let them shoot the 20 gauge with lowpowered shells.

Don’t forget lightly loaded shells for the starting shotgunner are just as important as a gun that fits properly. Let them practice and shoot on paper with target loads, if you are going to turkey hunt, save the heavy stuff for the woods. Remington offers their Managed Recoil System STS Target load, shell out another dollar or two for a box of shells that the kid can enjoy shooting. Another option is the Aguila Ammunition MiniShell, a one inch shotgun shell that is perfectly capable of shattering clay targets, but a lot more pleasant for the young (and old)shooter to use on the range. ( www.aguilaammo.com )

Get that kid a shotgun for Christmas! Not just any shotgun, but one that fits them, both of you will be glad you did. Merry Christmas to all my brothers in camo.

-Larry Case. Hashtag #108. December 2018. If you would like to contact Larry Case, email him at Larryocase3@gmail.com. See Larry’s online blog at GunsandCornbread.com

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/guns-and-cornbread-buy-that-kid-a-shotgun-for-christmas-larry-case/feed/0How Not to Build a Birdhouse.http://hashtagwv.com/how-not-to-build-a-birdhouse-larry-berger/
http://hashtagwv.com/how-not-to-build-a-birdhouse-larry-berger/#respondTue, 11 Dec 2018 14:20:05 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14530Years ago, when the children were growing up, there was a simple birdhouse hanging on an old oak tree outside my bedroom window amid small banana trees and a profusion of ferns. It was a wooden structure made of raw plywood with a sloping roof, a small hole in the front, no frills. But no […]

]]>@three_sisters_harvest Every once in a while I change the decor on a #birdhouse

Years ago, when the children were growing up, there was a simple birdhouse hanging on an old oak tree outside my bedroom window amid small banana trees and a profusion of ferns. It was a wooden structure made of raw plywood with a sloping roof, a small hole in the front, no frills. But no birds came. And eventually a frog moved in. The birds all decided to build their nests somewhere else. One couple nested on the other side of my bedroom wall in a niche where a window used to be, and in my hurrying I never quite finished the boarding up. In the spring I could hear the chicks peeping in their nest every morning. And out in my shed, which didn’t have a door, another small family settled into the #12 Common nail bin.

But for a couple of years the birdhouse in the oak tree was the exclusive domain of a tree frog. He would hang on the wall inside with his head sticking out of the hole waiting for the morning bug traffic. Around the property were a number of other similar birdhouses, none occupied by birds, most by bugs.

They were the remains of a small business I started enthusiastically with the kids. We called it Berger Bros.Better Built Birdhouses. Be a Birdie’s Buddy and Buy a Birdhouse. Practice on the Birds and then Love Your Neighbors. With these encouraging slogans we began a buildin’. Half inch plywood scraps from a construction site provided most of the material. We cut them in four, five and six inch strips with the table saw and then made cardboard templates for the sides, front, top and bottom. We cut triangles off the corners of the bottom pieces for drainage, cut a hole in the front piece for the birds to get in, put a small hole in the back piece to hang them, and sloped the roof slightly and made it overlap the front. We nailed the pieces together with small finishing nails except for one side piece which we hinged by nailing it only once at the top, securing the bottom with a screw so we could get inside and clean it out. The sides were shorter than the front and back, giving ventilation at the top.

The best part was coloring them. We didn’t want to use paint for the bird’s sake. So I found an old plumber’s blow torch in one of the sheds, filled it with gas and fired it up. Its frightful whooshing had everyone standing at a safe distance. A couple of quick passes on each side of the birdhouse burnt the soft grain of the plywood. Then we brushed it with a stiff brush. The result was a rustic, black and brown, unfinished surface that blended well with the tree bark. We went around the property and hung a few of them on trees, fully expecting birds to move in. The rest went on nails on the side of the workshop. The unfinished strips of wood were neatly stacked under the workbench and the templates, made out of cardboard, were tucked away into manila folders for later production.

What followed next was an encouraging series of lectures from the founder. “The Goodness of Productivity” and “Finding Time For The Less Fortunate” became suppertime subjects. Somehow I imagined birds were homeless without our birdhouses.

Too soon, autumn returned, the kids went back to school and all my idealism was swallowed up by reality. Work began demanding more and more of my time. And the kids, being busy with schoolwork and new friends didn’t return to the project on their own; it went the way of lost enthusiasm. If birds had moved into the existing birdhouses, I might have been able to revive interest on the weekends.

The next spring I made an interesting discovery. I was rummaging around in the library and the idea of resurrecting the birdhouse business struck me. Summer was coming and the kids would soon be out of school and needed constructive projects. Perhaps more ornate designs would spark enough interest to revive the birdhouse business. I gathered up a small stack of books on building birdhouses, took a comfortable chair, and began to read.

The results were illuminating. I discovered that birdhouse design is more important than I had thought it was. I was pleased to learn that I had done a few things right. The ventilation was necessary. The drainage holes and clean out access were good design. And most of the book’s authors cautioned against using paint. But the birds’ individual needs were more significant than I had imagined. How could I have missed the importance of hole size? Of course, different birds are different sizes, but I just thought a larger hole would accommodate a larger variety of birds. The prospect of littler birds being expatriated by the neighborhood bullies had not occurred to me.

Each birdhouse needs to be designed for a specific bird. The hole has to be just the right size. And the interior space has to be large enough to accommodate the nest and the baby birds to come. Then there’s the distance from the floor to the hole. If the hole is too high, the baby birds won’t be able to hop up to it before their initial flight. I cringed at the vision of going out one day to inspect my birdhouses and finding little baby bird skeletons littering the floors. But the birds instinctively know these needs and that’s why they never inhabited the birdhouses we had built. I had failed to consider the needs of the birds and to do the necessary research.

But how do you define success and failure? I had spent time with my kids and taught them skills along the way even if the project itself had not worked out. And I had learned a lesson I could apply to other areas in my life. My eagerness was enough to get us all motivated but more thought needed to be given to the project before we started building. A quick trip to the library for some research would have provided me with enough information to truly build a better birdhouse. And had the birds moved in, it might have generated enough interest to go on and build more. As it was, we all learned lessons from my mistakes and the kids have had an eye-opening look into the vagaries of their father’s unbridled enthusiasm.

Well, now the kids are grown but there is an accumulation of grandchildren. Recently, I went back to the library to see if I could find anything about frog houses. I wasn’t surprised that there wasn’t a single book on the subject because I am often coming up with wonderful, innovative ideas. Now I’m busily planning my next project. Getting the poor frogs up off the ground will certainly mean less frog and automobile collisions. And the mottoes are coming fast. The Domiciliation of the Common Croaker. Dealing with Frogsplats. Billeting the Beautiful Bullfrog.

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/how-not-to-build-a-birdhouse-larry-berger/feed/0Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a Timeless Classic at GVThttp://hashtagwv.com/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-a-timeless-classic-at-gvt/
http://hashtagwv.com/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-a-timeless-classic-at-gvt/#respondTue, 11 Dec 2018 00:54:47 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14526Celebrate the holiday season with Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a timeless classic. This family favorite runs December 7 & 8 at 7:30pm, December 13-15 at 7:30pm, and December 20-22 at 7:30pm, with a Pay-What-You-Can Preview Performance December 6 at 7:30pm. and a matinee performance December 22 at 7:30pm. Travel with […]

Celebrate the holiday season with Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a timeless classic. This family favorite runs December 7 & 8 at 7:30pm, December 13-15 at 7:30pm, and December 20-22 at 7:30pm, with a Pay-What-You-Can Preview Performance December 6 at 7:30pm. and a matinee performance December 22 at 7:30pm. Travel with Ebenezer Scrooge as the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future lead him on a journey through his childhood innocence to the cold and lonely death that awaits him. After seeing the consequences of the path that he has chosen, he learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Returning to fill the role of Jacob Marley is Richard Rowan, who made his GVT debut as Oronte in this season’s delightful satire The School for Lies. Some of his favorite roles include Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Fredrik in A Little Night Music and General Genghis Kahn Schmitz in Seussical the Musical. A Theatre Major from Northwestern University, Rowan grew up in a theatrical family. His mother was an actor and dancer, his brother is a director and playwright, and he wanted to be on stage for as long as he can remember. One of his first productions was A Christmas Carol when he was 12, and found the experience fresh and exciting. “When I see the young people in this cast, I expect many of them are experiencing live theatre with that same sense of wonder. That enriches the experience for all of us,” says Rowan. He hopes the students participating in this production are just as excited as he was.

Along with the GVTeens, Tweens and Tots, Rowan also thinks the community members participating fit the show and its message perfectly. Between this eclectic cast of professionals, volunteers and students, and the intimate experience GVT offers, the audience will see the true meaning of Christmas, and be ready to embrace the New Year. “Scrooge learns a hard lesson from three spirits, but in troubling times there’s probably a little Scrooge in most of us. Our show provides a loving reminder to remember what’s really important and to cherish the joy of a magical season,” says Rowan.

Greenbrier Valley Theatre is located at 1038 Washington St. E. in downtown Lewisburg. Tickets are $30 for general adult admission, $27 for seniors (60+) and $20 for children/students. For more information, call the GVT Box Office at 304- 645-3838 or visit gvtheatre.org.

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-a-timeless-classic-at-gvt/feed/0Interview w/ Riders in the Sky, an Important Slice of the American Musical Piehttp://hashtagwv.com/interview-w-riders-in-the-sky-an-important-slice-of-the-american-musical-pie/
http://hashtagwv.com/interview-w-riders-in-the-sky-an-important-slice-of-the-american-musical-pie/#respondMon, 10 Dec 2018 23:07:02 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14521For more than thirty years Riders in The Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing the genre. And while remaining true to the integrity of Western music, they have themselves have become modern-day icons by branding the genre with […]

For more than thirty years Riders in The Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing the genre. And while remaining true to the integrity of Western music, they have themselves have become modern-day icons by branding the genre with their own legendary wacky humor and way-out Western wit, and all along encouraging buckaroos and buckarettes to live life “The Cowboy Way!”

Since 1977, the trail has led this classic cowboy quartet to heights they could have never predicted. Riders have chalked up over 6100 concert appearances in all 50 states and 10 countries, appearing in venues everywhere from the Nashville National Guard Armory to Carnegie Hall in New York, and from county fairs to the Hollywood Bowl. Their cowboy charisma and comedic flair have made them naturals for TV, and landed them their own weekly show on TNN, as well as a Saturday morning series on CBS. They have been guests on countless TV specials, documentaries and variety shows, appearing with everyone from Barney to Penn & Teller. And their animated likenesses have shared the screen with Daffy Duck on the Cartoon Network, and the Disney Channel’s Stanley.

On Thursday, December 13, at 7:30pm, they will grace the stage at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg to celebrate the holiday season as they present “Christmas the Cowboy Way.” They will mix classic Christmas tunes with the wide-open spirit of cowboy music, sprinkling the evening with their wacky western wit and down-home charm. Learn more about the band with our short interview:

1. What brings the band to Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg? A promoter/buyer with good taste!

2. What is your most memorable show? As for a live show, the two appearances at the Hollywood Bowl. As for an appearance, winning the Grammys for sure!

3. What is “The Cowboy Way” How do you describe it?In this era of situation, ethics, and difficult moral choices, we ask “What would Gene or Roy or Tex or Ranger Doug do?” That’s the Cowboy Way

4. Is everyone in the band original members? Too Slim and Ranger Doug started the outfit in November of 1977, 41 years ago. Woody Paul joined in August of 1978, and we were a trio for 10 years. Joey joined in 1988 and is the new kid, only 30 years with us!

5. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?Because we are committed to a tradition and a style, the music itself has not evolved; we are carriers and proponents of a beautiful and important slice of the American musical pie. But we have all evolved greatly as singers, musicians, and writers, and still enjoy creating as much as we did 40 years ago.

6. What advice do you have for musicians?Play what you love and never stop creating. Always play with people who are better than you are, so you never stop learning.

To purchase tickets, call Carnegie Hall Box Office at 304.645.7917, visit carnegiehallwv.org, or stop by at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, West Virginia. Performance tickets start at $30, and discounts are available for Carnegie Hall members, students, senior citizens, and military. Carnegie Hall Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm.

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/interview-w-riders-in-the-sky-an-important-slice-of-the-american-musical-pie/feed/0Tuesday, Jan 1: Join the Revelry at Shanghai Paradehttp://hashtagwv.com/tuesday-jan-1-join-the-revelry-at-shanghai-parade-susanna-robinson/
http://hashtagwv.com/tuesday-jan-1-join-the-revelry-at-shanghai-parade-susanna-robinson/#respondMon, 10 Dec 2018 21:49:03 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14512Sometimes the point of a tradition is the existence of the tradition itself. Each January 1st for as long as I’ve been around Lewisburg (which is many-a-year, ya little whipper-snappers), there has been a tried and true tradition on New Years’ Day at high noon. Surreal, bizarre, to say the least, hilariously offbeat, and delightfully […]

Sometimes the point of a tradition is the existence of the tradition itself. Each January 1st for as long as I’ve been around Lewisburg (which is many-a-year, ya little whipper-snappers), there has been a tried and true tradition on New Years’ Day at high noon. Surreal, bizarre, to say the least, hilariously offbeat, and delightfully diverse, the SHANGHAI PARADE has been walking the (off)beat for so many years, no one really knows how it began. It has been said that, well, “It just has always been.” Oblivious to rain or shine, through snow and sleet, through foggy skies and hazy hangovers, the people gather as spectators, aka innocent bystanders (at times an estimated 700 to 2000 strong), and they watch with a mixture of amusement, enjoyment, bewilderment, and at times, numb surveillance.

The themes of the entries are all over the map, from nebulously vague to oddly specific, from weeks of preparation and planning to nearly last-minute revelers, and the variety is delightfully diverse. No rhyme nor reason. Almost no rules. Open acceptance of almost every idea. Past years have included as many as 80 entries and in many categories. Walkers, animals, floats, spirit award, and so forth… “It’s fun, it doesn’t require any pre-registration, so if two hours ago you thought, let’s go be in the Shanghai Parade, you can go do it,” said Susan Campbell, the parade starter. “It’s less organized than you could imagine and it’s beautiful that way,” said Ryan Keesee, an assistant scout master for Lewisburg Troop 70. He grew up participating and holds it dear to his heart.

@wvfrenchfryed shanghai parade

Lineup is at 11am on Lee Street with the parade line setting out at Noon. Remember, no pre-registration is necessary. Participants will be judged on creativity and cash prizes will be available. The parade route goes from Lee Street to Church Street, along the Washington Street route. As each entrant passes the judges’ table, they receive a crisp $2 bill.

Here you can see, at any given moment, prom queen girls glammed up in the back of a pick-up truck, followed closely by a lone woman walking with a white tree branch, then on to Elvis dancing with Patrick from Spongebob, a dinosaur sparring with a horse-headed man in a suit, jellyfish children wiggling their way along the route, crow-headed friends walking along as if nothing is out of the ordinary, masked dancers, a car dressed like a cat, dogs dressed as people, people dressed as dogs, painted horses carrying strong and beautifully noble equestrians, Llamas in Pajamas, and on it goes… One year, men dressed as miners crawled the entire route. There’s the ever-popular, scantily-clad, be-diapered Baby New Year (you cannot un-see this), the coveted (or not) title of Super-Dooper-Pooper-Scooper, jazzed-up tractors, antique cars, a menagerie of animals, men wearing suits of bacon, a fife and drum corp, … Oh, my, there’s something for everyone. We once loved the carload of women dressed as chickens (with a waving rooster, Big Red, at the wheel). It’s a parade of many divinely original delights. And do not forget my own cronies as our ornately be-hatted witch brigade, the Washington Street Witches, cackling and waving our way down the street, with our sweet ancient dogs leading the way.

@wvfrenchfryed shanghai parade

Often as someone passes, you scratch your head and say, “Well, what was that about?” And in a good way…

The origins, the history, the beginnings of this parade are questionable and enigmatic. Some say it began in the late 1800’s or perhaps even earlier. There is a myriad of theories as to the beginnings including the thought that a Pocahontas County fiddle tune named ‘’Shanghai’’ may be associated with the tradition. Some older residents of this part of the state recall that ‘’shanghai-ing’’ once went on for days, usually in the week before and the week after Christmas. Everyone agrees that it does have Scotch-Irish and German ties.

According to one of the judges, “Between Christmas and New Year’s in the 1800s, groups of people would form parties and travel over the countryside, visiting friends and neighbors. They would dress up with costumes and masks, and apparently that’s how the parade got its start.” And this tradition was called a “colieshangle”, which may have morphed through time and retelling into Shanghai. Some say it was a missionary who brought the tradition from China, or a traveling musician who sang about a Shanghai rooster. Nobody knows for sure, no one is left to tell the tale, so sometimes the point of a tradition is the existence of the tradition itself.

Normally beginning at high noon on Jan 1, when it falls on a Sunday, it will start at 2pm. This phenomenon, the Shanghai Parade, is a mosaic of Americana, of creativity and comradery, and of ringing in the new. From a 1930’s news article about the gathering: “Let millionaire and pauper meet, and go marching down the street. The lid is off, fun is rife, let’s have the best time of your life.” Get there early to insure a great gawking spot. Wear layers and bring something warm to imbibe. Join the revelry.

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/tuesday-jan-1-join-the-revelry-at-shanghai-parade-susanna-robinson/feed/0Christmas Time’s a Coming Along the Mtn Music Trailhttp://hashtagwv.com/christmas-times-a-coming-along-the-mtn-music-trail/
http://hashtagwv.com/christmas-times-a-coming-along-the-mtn-music-trail/#respondMon, 10 Dec 2018 21:17:26 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14505The most popular Christmas Carol of all times is Silent Night (see time.com/3613551/christmas-song/ ) . That page also has an interactive graphic of the most recorded Christmas songs since 1978. ) Silent Night was written 1814-16. The most popular Bluegrass Christmas song, Christmas Time’s a Coming (youtube.com/watch?v=EXfBYXElPII), was written in 1962 by a fiddle player who […]

The most popular Christmas Carol of all times is Silent Night (see time.com/3613551/christmas-song/) . That page also has an interactive graphic of the most recorded Christmas songs since 1978. ) Silent Night was written 1814-16. The most popular Bluegrass Christmas song, Christmas Time’s a Coming (youtube.com/watch?v=EXfBYXElPII), was written in 1962 by a fiddle player who also earned a PhD in engineering from MIT and was a researcher at Bell Labs. Benjamin Franklin“Tex” Logan learned to play the fiddle from his fiddlin’ father. While he was a PhD student at MIT, just across the Charles River from Boston, Benjamin Franklin Logan hooked up with three Bluegrass pickers from the Coal River section of Raleigh County WV who had recently moved to Boston to pave the way for bluegrass in New England: Bothers Everett (Mandolin) and “Bea” (Guitar) Lilly and their friend Don Stover (Banjo). The band, originally called the ‘Confederate Mountaineers” and wearing campaign hats and riding pants like Bill Monroe’s early look, soon renamed themselves The Lilly Brothers. They played in a bar called The Hillbilly Ranch in Boston’s “Combat Zone”, a seedy neighborhood near the bus station which sported multiple strip clubs and dive bars. Tex wrote this song while he was a member of the Lilly Brothers. It goes kind of like this:

Christmas time’s a comin’, Christmas time’s a comin’Christmas time’s a comin’ and I know I’m going home

Snowflakes are falling, my old home’s a calling
Tall pines are humming, Christmas time’s a coming
Can’t you hear them bells ringing, ringing joy, joy hear them singing
When it’s snowing I’ll be going back to my country home

Christmas time’s a comin’, Christmas time’s a comin’
Christmas time’s a comin’ and I know I’m going home

Holly’s in the window, home’s where the wind blows
Can’t walk for running, Christmas time’s a comin’
Can’t you hear them bells ringing, ringing joy, joy them singing
When it’s snowing I’ll be going back to my country home

Christmas time’s a comin’, Christmas time’s a comin’Christmas time’s a comin’ and I know I’m going home

White candles burning, my old heart’s a yearning
For the folks at home when Christmas time’s a coming
Can’t you hear them bells ringing, ringing joy, joy hear them singing
When it’s snowing I’ll be going back to my country home

Christmas time’s a comin’ has been recorded many times, first and most notably by Bill Monroe. Listen to Bill and he Bluegrass Boys play it on Grand Ole Opry announcer Ralph Emery’s TV show: youtube.com/watch?v=EXfBYXElPII. Of course it was first and always Tex Logan’s song. To hear him play it at his 85th birthday party, go to youtube.com/watch?v=bRL5hTWidk4 And for a more modern version, check out Ricky Skaggs playing it at The Grand Old Opry: youtube.com/watch?v=-4Rg84r1n1s. It’s my personal favorite Bluegrass Christmas tune. And no version captures the joy of the season more than Dolly Parton’s: youtube.com/watch?v=4wd574YQXag

Friday, Dec. 7 – Augusta Heritage Center December Square Dance, 8pm – 10pm (Beginners’ Workshop at 7:45pm) D&E Campus, Myles Center for the Arts, Creative Commons (former Pit Dance Studio). Dance to live old-time music by Josh Wanstreet & Friends with calling by Taylor Runner! All dances are beginner and family friendly, and participants don’t need to bring a dance partner, Saturday Dec. 8 – Mtn Music Trail member Long Point String Band plays at The Grove in Fayetteville (and at Melody’s in Beckley Saturday the 15th)

Thursday, Dec. 13 – Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg presents that wonderful Cowboy/Musical/Comedy act Riders in the Sky with their show “A Cowboy Christmas”. Read the interview w/ Riders in the Sky on page 8 of the December 2018 issue.

Friday, December 14 –The Hefner Family of Mill Point, Pocahontas County will sing at Cooktown Community Church, located right on US 219 between Mill Point and Cooktown, for their 7PM Christmas program.

On the last week of the year, The Purple Fiddle in Thomas closes out 2018 with a bang! Friday, December 23 –mandolinist Jack Dunlap with a Christmas show. jacksmandolin.com. Wednesday, December 26 –West Virginia’s own Hillbilly Gypsies from Morgantown. youtube.com/watch?v=zUCQb-Y1N_M. Sunday December 30 – The Hackensaw Boys – For almost two decades, the Hackensaw Boys have plowed the asphalt bringing their raw, gritty American vernacular sounds to the music halls and streets across the world. The music began in 1999 when four friends from Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley found their collective ways to the roots music hub of Charlottesville. As with the folk and punk traditions which form the foundation of their sound, they’ve always operated more as a collective than a band. All said, twenty-eight members have cycled through the group—you never quite know who might sit in as a guest on any given night. youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8Mv1DAT4A

And, wrapping up 2018 on New Year’s Eve, Pocahontas County’s own Juanita Fireball & the Continental Drifters will play at the Brazenhead Inn in Mingo, just north of the Pocahontas/Randolph line on US 219.

Happy Holidays from the MMT – give yourself a great Christmas present – go out and hear some music – preferably Live and Local- or best of all – make music yourself!

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/christmas-times-a-coming-along-the-mtn-music-trail/feed/0WV Artist on Display: Sean O’Connell, Ceramic Artisthttp://hashtagwv.com/wv-artist-on-display-sean-oconnell-ceramic-artist/
http://hashtagwv.com/wv-artist-on-display-sean-oconnell-ceramic-artist/#respondMon, 10 Dec 2018 20:43:32 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14498Meet Sean O’Connell, a ceramic artist from upstate New York, and Greenbrier County resident since 2013. From ’95-’03, Sean studied all aspects of ceramic arts with Professor Regis Brodie at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. He is passionate about his craft and has done exhibitions in several museums and art centers in New York […]

Meet Sean O’Connell, a ceramic artist from upstate New York, and Greenbrier County resident since 2013. From ’95-’03, Sean studied all aspects of ceramic arts with Professor Regis Brodie at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. He is passionate about his craft and has done exhibitions in several museums and art centers in New York and Massachusetts, including the Ginofor Gallery in Cambridge and Tang Museum in Saratoga Springs. Today, Sean teaches ceramic art classes at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. His students learn about hand-building and throwing. He also maintains a working studio at Lee Street Studios in Lewisburg. Lee Street is a 1920’s school building that houses artists working in a variety of disciples. Sean also exhibits his work at Lee Street and the Wandering Bird Gallery in downtown Lewisburg. Learn more about Sean with our Q&A:

How do you describe your palette?

I create a wide variety of objects both sculptural and functional. From coffee cups to large-scale mixed media pieces that employ found, scrounged, and salvaged elements. Still, the core of my work remains solidly in the tradition of ceramics.

Clay is my medium. I love the way it moves under the pressure of my hands, and the challenges it presents when using it to realize my ideas. Wielding this earth-based material, I create a palette of form and texture that is made permanent by the fire, and colored by the metals that are also from the earth. I never tire of the variations that clay inspires.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

I think my greatest accomplishment is keeping an open mind, which is not always easy in the world today.

What obstacles do you need to overcome to find your creative space/muse?

Obstacles to creativity are typically self induced and fear based. I find if I make the work first, and think about it after, that I have a better chance of staying true to myself and producing work with integrity a unique voice.

How do you find your inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere. Just look around on life’s journey; nature, art, people, history, environment, they all inspire. It’s our personal reaction to the experience. Sometimes, simply a word or shape can trigger an emotion that I feel needs to be recorded.

What is your favorite piece(s) you’ve made and why?

My work is personal so it’s difficult to name a favorite piece, but I’ll say “Couple” from a series of expressionistic figures I created some years ago. I made that particular piece for my partner Janine (My Dog & I columnist, see page 7), however, I think the sentiment of connection is universal.

How can our readers purchase your pieces?

My work can be purchased at the Lee Street Studios Gallery show, or Wandering Bird Gallery, both in Lewisburg. My Smaller functional pieces can be obtained at Plants Etc. and visitors are always welcome at my Lee St. studio #10.

]]>http://hashtagwv.com/wv-artist-on-display-sean-oconnell-ceramic-artist/feed/0In the Spirit: What Would Santa Drink?http://hashtagwv.com/in-the-spirit-what-would-santa-drink-robert-aquilino/
http://hashtagwv.com/in-the-spirit-what-would-santa-drink-robert-aquilino/#respondTue, 04 Dec 2018 19:08:01 +0000http://hashtagwv.com/?p=14486Here we are again, in the middle of the Holiday Season… The shopping has begun and with it the search for the perfect gift for our loved ones and for those who made Santa’s nice list. He is also getting busy planning his route during Christmas Eve. Now, tradition has it, that we will leave […]

Here we are again, in the middle of the Holiday Season… The shopping has begun and with it the search for the perfect gift for our loved ones and for those who made Santa’s nice list. He is also getting busy planning his route during Christmas Eve. Now, tradition has it, that we will leave him a glass of milk and some cookies, but what if Santa has been really good this year and we decide to leave him something extra to make his evening more special. As he is making his way from east to west, “Papai Noel” (which is his name in Brazil), might enjoy an adult beverage as he is traveling across the globe. Granted, he will have a Designated Flyer this year so he won’t get a F.U.I.

Let’s start our journey!

New Zealand will be his first stop, now remember, it’s summer down under, so a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough will be a good choice. From there, a fast flight to Australia where the country is big and diverse. The Aussies are known for their big and bold Shiraz but remember it is still summer so maybe a cold beer would refresh him. Australia is actually great at making beers and brands like Coopers Brewery, James Boag and Tooheys, aside form the very well known Fosters, are amazing choices.

China will be next stop and meanwhile the country is actually one of the biggest importer of international wines, there is a distilled beverage called Baijiu or shaojiu which is Sorghum based and all typically have an alcohol content greater than 30% and are so similar in color and feel to vodka that baijiu is sometimes known as “Chinese vodka” and they also have some flavored ones too.

Since Japan is right next-door, Kris Kringle might want to refresh his palate with some sake. From the floral and light Ginjo style to the unfiltered and cloudy Nigori, he’ll probably grab some spicy tuna rolls with it to fill his belly cause his next stop will be in the middle east. He will be drinking some Arak witch is a Levantine alcoholic spirit. It is a clear, colorless, unsweetened anise-flavored distilled alcoholic drink. Arak is the traditional alcoholic beverage in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.

Now flying over to Europe, he will skip some great places like Chianti, Barolo, even Burgundy just to land in London and have a drink with the Queen. After all, since Brexit became a reality, he might even need a visa during future visits. Dubonnet and London Dry Gin is her favorite. So they will chat for while then Pelznickel will make his way to the Americas.

First up is Brazil and as expected, caipirinhas will be the drink of choice. Nothing better then a mash up of crushed fresh limes with some sugar and cachaça (distilled from sugar cane) where Copacabana Beach will be lit up with colorful lights and a warm breeze from the ocean.

Before he makes his way up north, Santa will go west and will be very curious to try Pisco, which has been made for centuries in both Chile and Peru. Both countries claim the creation of this distilled spirit from grapes but no proof so far of it’s origin’s has been made.

The Caribbean will be his toughest task with all the different styles of rum. But maybe he can just grab a few bottles to go and enjoy them during the summer months in the North Pole.

Mexico… I’m sure he will have some shots of tequila and will try some mezcal which is the hottest beverage being produced right now made from roasted agave of any species rather than baked as in tequila style.

St. Nick, better make sure his reindeers can fly high enough in the U.S. so he can experience the abundance of different adult beverages we can offer. Of course, he will be getting tired by now, but that is why his Designated Flyer is in control. Not only, every state is now making wines, but there are several small distilleries making every type of spirit across the country, craft beers are now so popular, he will have a hard choice to make in which one to try. Don’t forget the Bourbons…

But now, his voyage is coming to an end, so maybe a sweet glass of Inniskillin Ice Wine from Niagara-on-the Lake would warm him up a bit.

I know we might have missed a few important spots this year but old St. Nick can plan the visit for next year. The important thing here is to remember that, no matter where you go, there will be a local specialty concoction for you to enjoy with your friends and family.

I hope you all enjoyed the trip and also wish you all an amazing holiday season, with a lot of great food and drinks. Remember to stay safe! Cheers!

– Robert Aquilino – Manager and Sommelier at Sam Sneads at The Greenbrier